2019-11-26 · City Council · Transcript · Work Session Meeting

--- title: November 26 2019 Work Session Meeting date: 2019-11-26 source: 2019-11-26_November_26_2019_Work_Session_Meeting.wav --- [0:00:00, 0:00:00]: for the police department. [0:00:04, 0:00:05]: Excuse me, that's [0:00:06, 0:00:07]: She's calling before the police department? [0:00:07, 0:00:08]: Okay. [0:00:09, 0:00:10]: Oh you are. Okay. [0:00:38, 0:00:44]: Okay. We uh we have a quorum, so we need a big one. [0:00:51, 0:01:02]: All right, ladies and gentlemen, we have uh quorum. It is uh six minutes, excuse me, about a minute after six. I wanna call a work session on twenty-three, excuse me, Tuesday, twenty-sixth November to order. [0:01:03, 0:01:04]: Invocation, please. [0:01:05, 0:01:06]: Sell center? [0:01:10, 0:01:19]: I wanna thank everybody for gathering here tonight. And I just wanna at this time, it was a difficult time in my life to be able to share with you. [0:01:19, 0:01:39]: Over these Thanksgiving holidays, make sure that you share with every loved one that you come in contact with, and even those that don't attend, how much you love them because you don't know how much time that they have on this earth. And make sure that you they know that they are loved and you love them. Uh during this special time in Thanksgiving. [0:01:39, 0:01:56]: And I'm very thankful for the citizens of Stockbridge being allowing me to serve and to be able to serve with my colleagues here. I'm thankful that the citizens here at Stockbridge are in good hands with this council. I'm thankful that the Lord has blessed this city to remain whole. [0:01:56, 0:02:08]: We have so much and a bountiful harvest this year and what is ahead of us in this time to come. It's a great time to be in Stockbridge. So thank you so much, Lord. Amen. Amen. [0:02:09, 0:02:23]: Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to a republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [0:02:24, 0:02:26]: Madam Clerk will call, please. [0:02:29, 0:02:30]: President. [0:02:31, 0:02:32]: Present. [0:02:32, 0:02:33]: Present. [0:02:34, 0:02:35]: President. [0:02:35, 0:02:36]: Present. [0:02:37, 0:02:39]: Thank you. Appreciate that. [0:02:39, 0:02:42]: Um need a motion to adopt the agenda, please. [0:02:44, 0:02:44]: Mayor. [0:02:46, 0:02:50]: Yes. Oh no no, I'm sorry, forgive me. Forgive me. Mayor. Yes, sir. Forgive me. [0:02:51, 0:02:56]: Uh I'd like to make a motion to amend agenda. Okay. Uh to remove [0:02:56, 0:02:58]: Item number six. [0:02:58, 0:03:05]: Uh council consideration to approve I GA uh with an explanation from uh city manager. [0:03:05, 0:03:06]: Is there a second? [0:03:07, 0:03:08]: A second. All right. [0:03:09, 0:03:12]: For discussion purposes, City Manager, please. [0:03:13, 0:03:33]: Yeah, Mr. Mayor and Council, uh, this particular item, we just needed to have a little bit more time to review it. So we asked you to postpone it for the moment. This does not in any way impede us or slow us down from moving forward with the amphitheater project. In fact, just about an hour and a half ago, um H.J. Russell delivered two very uh voluminous documents to us, which are contracts, which [0:03:32, 0:03:52]: You're ready for the mayor's signature. They'll actually be mobilizing next week. They'll bring in the construction trailer. They'll start marking out the property for erosion control. We actually have a meeting with them scheduled next week, our team as well as their development team to move the project forward. So you'll see activity next week. This does not impede that from moving forward. We just needed a little more time to [0:03:52, 0:03:56]: to review uh the PFA documents uh that were provided. [0:03:56, 0:04:15]: Thank you, sir. Any further discussion? Yes, sir. Go right ahead, please. There's been a lot of talk uh in the community about uh the Cochran Clark proposal. Well one second. This is this is about what the the agenda and what we what what the amendment to the agenda comments in reference to what we're taking off the table right now is what this should be for. [0:04:16, 0:04:36]: Okay, I thought we were amending the agenda right now. W well, we is there's motion to amend agenda for this one item. Are you trying to make another motion to amend it? Well, I'd like I uh part of this discussion is that's one amendment being made, but there probably needs to be two, in that we need to have at least a discussion about copper. [0:04:36, 0:04:37]: Yeah. [0:04:37, 0:04:42]: Everything being in the news. We will have discussion of wi about that in executive session. [0:04:42, 0:04:45]: We have to have some what what's been been proposed to us by [0:04:46, 0:04:57]: the county will allow us to have some discussion in the second session. And I would imagine we will t I've been talking to the leadership here or or excuse me in this sense, we're at least but in in reference to city manager and in city attorney about making sure we talk about [0:04:58, 0:05:04]: This is an executive session'cause it deals with it deals with that topic. That type of topic deals with executive session discussion. So that'll happen. [0:05:07, 0:05:27]: Is is that agreeable to the council that had the executive session? Well I surely hope so. Uh oh. We won't make an inviolable movement until we have some discussion in reference that because what it because executive session deal with personnel matters, litigation matters, right? And and and property type issue matters. So that's more I would say that's more appropriate for us to have discussion during a time frame. [0:05:27, 0:05:31]: And that note I would just like to uh ask the attorney about that as well. [0:05:35, 0:05:44]: Um, you know the last time this topic came up, the council opted not to go to objective session for that discussion, but we will follow the council's lead. [0:05:45, 0:05:45]: All right. [0:05:46, 0:06:02]: Well we do have a c pending motion uh right now for for one action. Now we're trying to look make another a motion for s uh I mean there's two kinda two separate issues here. You have to address the the motion that's consecutive, get anything special on that, and then if you want to do a digital amendment you may [0:06:02, 0:06:20]: All right. So let's let's let's see what we about let's see what we want about this particular one that's on the table in reference to removing item number six based on Mr. Knighton's explanation, whether or not there are any other questions in reference to removing that particular item from the agenda. Are there any other questions in reference to that? [0:06:21, 0:06:25]: Okay. So all in favor of that re uh removing that please indicate [0:06:25, 0:06:29]: All right, good. Last and that's now we're talking about additional amendment. Go right ahead, sir. [0:06:30, 0:06:50]: Okay, yes, I would like to um make a motion to add the Cochrane Park discussion uh to this agenda tonight so we could uh have that discussion. Uh the council opted to do so publicly the last time, so I'm not exactly sure why we wouldn't do that again since that was the case previously. [0:06:50, 0:06:51]: Yeah, is there a second to the motion? [0:06:51, 0:07:11]: I second. Okay, now so are there for the discussion on this? Yes, Mayor. Okay, go ahead, please. Um the reason why um there's a headliner in the front page of the Henry Times, the reason why I'm second, because it actually states um that the county approves funds for Cochrane Park repairs, uh, which is a headliner, but what does that mean? [0:07:11, 0:07:28]: entail. So if we kind of spoke publicly with the county, can we at least elaborate a little further from that hot headliner to where we stand at this moment after their response in reference to Cochrane Park? [0:07:29, 0:07:30]: All right, any further discussion? [0:07:31, 0:07:36]: Mayor. Yes, ma'am. Um, as far as I'm concerned, uh in regards to Cochrane Park. [0:07:37, 0:07:37]: Um [0:07:39, 0:07:43]: I don't believe we have the final study with the final figures. [0:07:43, 0:08:03]: And what I don't wanna do is go round and round on something that we know we have to finish doing our home homework on. I just want the I I think that we've had this discussion before that we're gonna go get the final numbers that a study would be done and so that we can take that back over to Henry County. If that is the case. [0:08:03, 0:08:04]: I [0:08:05, 0:08:12]: I would hate for us to keep going around in circles. Let's get all the stuff ducks in a row. [0:08:13, 0:08:31]: and come back with some facts instead of going around around we need to get apart, we don't need to get apart, we need to get apart. We know what the the the letter it's been stated. We we know what the issues are. The question is [0:08:31, 0:08:42]: for me, um, why won't we discuss it again until maybe Mr. Knighton can let us know whether or not we have some concrete numbers in place yet? [0:08:44, 0:08:46]: No, if if you have a comment to that, so go right ahead, please. [0:08:47, 0:09:07]: No, we're talking about it now anyway, it seems like. Let me let me tell you what we are. We we obviously have enlisted on our engineering on-call service, uh Falcon, to take a look and review at the documents that have been provided uh by Henry County. Uh they have uh uh made some findings to this point. Um [0:09:07, 0:09:26]: But the overall um s um report, if you will, that would need to be provided to the council is not ready. We did have today, I did want to update you, we did have uh building inspect and um um firm uh go out today uh to review the buildings. [0:09:26, 0:09:46]: Um uh at the facility. Obviously that was in real time today, so they haven't completed their assessment. They have to go back and make some uh other evaluations based on what they observed, based on what they uh took photos of today. And so that still needs to be uh brought together. Uh I would imagine that um in short order. [0:09:47, 0:09:53]: Um we would have uh the ability to bring you a more complete and comprehensive report that would address the items. [0:09:54, 0:10:04]: related to estimated costs, um main uh ongoing maintenance uh costs and other issues related to that park that you would need to have to make uh whatever decision you would ultimately want to make. [0:10:05, 0:10:17]: Thank you. And Mayor, having said that, since there's no conclusion on final numbers or anything, I'm I'm not in favor of voting for it tonight. Mayor more comments. Any other comments on this? [0:10:17, 0:10:20]: Um one of the things uh [0:10:21, 0:10:29]: When we had the discussion prior and since it was mentioned by our city attorney, it was discussed out front and I made the motion to discuss it out front. [0:10:30, 0:10:38]: Because I wanted us to be as transparent as possible with the communities and with everyone, because we had uh elected officials here from the county. [0:10:39, 0:10:42]: It's no secret that the county has given us [0:10:42, 0:10:46]: what they're gonna do. They're given an amount and they make their decision. [0:10:46, 0:10:48]: One of the things that we do as a city [0:10:49, 0:10:53]: Is we have to look at with our engineering firm and with our building inspector. [0:10:54, 0:11:14]: How can we ever make a decision without getting any cost that it would be to the taxpayers of City of Stockbridge uh pertaining to the park? I think we all up here want to see the park open. We all up here want to see it in uh operating. Uh and I believe that everyone involved to the from the coaches and to to the citizens to the [0:11:14, 0:11:34]: elected body that everyone wants to see this happen. But as an elected body, I believe to make a conscious decision in what we do when it comes to m to numbers and it's not playing with kids are important. I've I got pictures of youth programs that I've started. I love the kids. But what we have to look at as a city and youth um [0:11:34, 0:11:42]: Explained that to me earlier when I talked to you, Miss Knight, is that we have to make sure our engineering firm and our building firm, our building inspector [0:11:42, 0:11:44]: Everything that's with the park. [0:11:45, 0:12:05]: is in the order and in working order. And if not, then what is that cost to us as a city that we can say now, if you do that, we can do this and we will do this because you've done that? Those answers are not on the table yet because we're still in our process. The the county's not caring about a process. They're ta they're caring about [0:12:05, 0:12:24]: proceeding forward. And so this is what I need y this is what I'm saying for the city to stop bridge. Those numbers are being brought to us that we can look everyone our citizens in the in the face and say, Hey, we're doing it because these are the numbers and this is what is gonna cost our citizens. So I'm not prepared to [0:12:24, 0:12:30]: move forward with the decision on Cochrane Park until we finish doing our due diligence pertaining to the park. [0:12:31, 0:12:36]: Mr. Thomas, do you have a comment? Uh I do uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um [0:12:36, 0:12:42]: I I somewhat agree with the sentiment of the council, um, in order for us to move forward. [0:12:42, 0:12:47]: We do need to know the true assessment of the park. [0:12:47, 0:13:05]: Um, for me, on top of that, um, and I think I've stated this, I would love for us uh to actually have this as a part of our um domain here in the city. But I think we have to be responsible enough to know exactly how we move forward. [0:13:05, 0:13:21]: And we do need to know the assessment. Um, citizens need to understand that, you know, we are in a budget process. And for me, this budget process uh coincide with uh us taking on it uh this park. [0:13:21, 0:13:41]: Um I have some assessment about the budget. I do see some funds that could be available uh to do some things. But I but overall I just agree that we need to know exactly the assessment first before we actually go forward. I don't know, Mr. Night, I heard what you just said. I don't know if there's a a follow up. [0:13:41, 0:13:59]: Up to that. I'm not sure of the timeline that we need, you know, body county. I remember hearing something in 30 days. Um, but we just need to make sure because once we take that step forward, then we're accountable for that. And I just want to make sure that, you know, we're taking the correct step. [0:14:00, 0:14:01]: Since we're talking about this anyway. [0:14:02, 0:14:21]: I well sure that the council will let you m m remind you, I'm pretty sure you know this. It time is over the essence. If we want to make sure and make a a decision quickly be because if not, the kids, the children themselves and the leaders themselves will be hurt by this. So we gotta make a timely decision. And I believe what the resolution from the county mentioned that they'll give five hundred fifty thousand dollars to repair [0:14:21, 0:14:23]: Ді с Томватер піс. [0:14:24, 0:14:43]: provided that we acknowledge, I think, if I understand acknowledge the fact that we want to take it on. So the longer we wait, th I think the longer they're going to be um trying to repair it is my understanding from the resolution. That's the way I interpret it. Unless I'm interpreting this wrong and I'd like to maybe ask the legal advice whether or not I interpret that wrong or not. [0:14:45, 0:14:49]: The resolution that the county uh adopted is [0:14:50, 0:15:00]: not exactly clear. They say they will take steps to fix the problem related to the stormwater infrastructure and they [0:15:03, 0:15:23]: 550. But it's not clear what that means and when they will do that. Will they do it upon acceptance by the city, or if the city accepts it, will they do it beforehand? It's not clear, it's not the best resolution. So, you know, I think the the path that the city management [0:15:23, 0:15:30]: Has outlined, let us finish the report and present that to you so you can make an informed decision is a wise path. [0:15:31, 0:15:51]: All right. Mayor. I'm gonna take two more comments and we're gonna go. Just for my last comment. Um again, I agree with you, Mayor. Time is of essence. Um, and I just want to say that we've been round and around with this. Um the coaches have clearly said um that time is of essence. Um I do recall when the county match. [0:15:51, 0:16:11]: Manager stood right here in front of us and she basically c stated that the city had opportunity to send in engineers. They didn't have to wait on the county. Uh Ms. Matthews um basically stated that. So even if they do send in a resolution, I'm just trying to see where the city of Stockbridge stands with [0:16:11, 0:16:16]: Picking up the phone and asking them, please explain this, bring clarity to it. [0:16:17, 0:16:33]: Um because it seems like to me we're holding on to documents um and and not having the conversation for clarity. And as the mayor stated, this time is of essence. So I'm just asking our city manager and our city attorney [0:16:33, 0:16:35]: Tell me. [0:16:35, 0:16:49]: Have you guys talked to her? Have you reached out to her or anybody since she stood here last um basically stating um that we can send our engineers out there for the assessment? Have we spoken to her? [0:16:51, 0:17:11]: So there hasn't been community. Vanessa. Okay. So with that, that was unaware of us today. Um, so that's why we're asking the questions for the discussion. And it's um important for us know [0:17:11, 0:17:31]: Knowing that we do have coaches here and we have people watching live who know that this time is of essence to make sure that Stockbridge is not delaying the process. Because it's clear and we're just having discussion. No one has stated that we wanted to vote. I think the um it was stated that this we wanted to have the discussion, and Councilwoman Gantt actually. [0:17:31, 0:17:51]: If we're gonna say we're gonna send in our engineers, get get a report. [0:17:51, 0:18:09]: report, then we need to at least every time, even the next meeting, just give a report because that's what they want to know. Just like you said just now, you opened the you know, you went out there, whatever. We weren't aware of that. Okay. So that makes us ask questions as well. So I thank you so very much. [0:18:21, 0:18:22]: Sure. [0:18:22, 0:18:42]: All right. Absolutely. I I appreciate that. And you acknowledge me already. I have the floor. Right, I did. I I've before I said I'll take two more, is what I said earlier. Yes, I appreciate that. And what I will say to this is listen, the county has already told us what they're going to do. [0:18:42, 0:19:00]: Assessment, doing the buildings and all of that. No one is talking about that. They've already said they're not going to do that. So we need to make sure if we're doing an assessment is apples to apples in arms, it's about the stormwater and making sure that the park is safe. If that is the case. [0:19:01, 0:19:16]: It shouldn't take very long for us and and from what I understand and I think the attorney should get clarification. They stated that they would make the repairs before they were turned the park to over to us. They just wanted to make sure that we would accept it. [0:19:16, 0:19:18]: If the part was prepared and [0:19:19, 0:19:31]: in the storm water. There's no discussion on the dugouts or any of that. The discussion was on making the park safe. And that's what I've had discussions with uh the c commissioner who called me. [0:19:32, 0:19:49]: And uh this discussed this or two commissioners who called me to discuss this said that the repairs would be done and then the city would have to agree. They don't wanna do the repairs, fix the park and then turn around and then the city like, We don't want it. Well we've already done all the repairs because if we don't [0:19:50, 0:20:10]: Acknowledge receipt of the park. They're going to repurpose the park and use it as a passive park as they've already suggested. There is no option for them to continue to run the park at this particular point. So we have to make a decision ourselves on what we're going to do. And doing an assessment on the dugout. [0:20:10, 0:20:30]: And the uh cages and this that has no bearing on what they're doing. Our agreement when we first, our discussion when we first talked to them is that we didn't want I remember myself saying we didn't want a broken down Jalafi. If the park was repaired, it was at a standard where it was safe, then at that time. [0:20:30, 0:20:31]: Yeah. [0:20:31, 0:20:34]: We gotta do it. And I think I'll make this last comment. [0:20:34, 0:20:39]: I don't want anybody watching over my child or my children that don't want to. [0:20:40, 0:21:00]: Today, tomorrow, or any other time. They made it clear to us that they do not want to operate this park. So if we were to allow them to continue the war, what's to happen? To let it get right back in the same condition again under our tutelage and our watch with the park being safe, which was the original remote. [0:21:00, 0:21:07]: reason it was closed, that's what we need our attorney to do. Go back to the county to understand [0:21:07, 0:21:08]: What they're going to do. [0:21:09, 0:21:10]: With it. [0:21:10, 0:21:28]: immediately and then we get to actually go back to make sure that the park is repaired at that state and we could take it. I think it wouldn't take a lot to write the legal language to say uh we vote contingent upon the park being satisfactory [0:21:29, 0:21:45]: to our receiving it and then moving forward at that point. All right. That's that's the last that's the last comment. I said two comments or that's the question. I'd like to motion to the council to be able to speak on this issue. There's there's a motion already on the floor and it was a second. So you can uh all in favor of the motion, please indicate. [0:21:45, 0:21:49]: The motion was to have further discussion on this and add it to the agenda. All all most please indicate. [0:21:50, 0:21:57]: In favor? In fa in favor. Adding it to the agenda. Adding it to the agenda. Yes, I vote for it. All in favor, all to then opposed to that motion. [0:21:58, 0:22:15]: Motion doesn't pass. Okay, and it's so the motion is over. So let's go back to the original piece of the motion for that I asked for a uh a uh amendment to the uh agenda was to remove item number six. Mayor. Okay. Point of order. The point of order of what's the point order? I like to move on with the meetings. What's the point order, sir? [0:22:15, 0:22:18]: Point of order we had a motion on the floor and a second. [0:22:19, 0:22:27]: about the discussion of the Cochrane Park. And it seems to me for twenty five minutes we've been discussing Cochrane Park. And second of all, my motion is to [0:22:27, 0:22:34]: My counsel is to give me an opportunity to speak pertaining to the subject at hand, which is Cochrane Park. So I make a motion for that. [0:22:35, 0:22:36]: Ah, second. [0:22:37, 0:22:39]: All in favor of emotion please in the K. [0:22:40, 0:22:44]: My motion is to speak what was at hand as Cochrane Park. [0:22:45, 0:23:05]: Because the mayor has allowed other council members to speak numerous times. And the mayor has allowed council to speak numerous times. And I want to speak again pertaining to this issue. So my motion is that the mayor allow me to speak and it's second by Lakeisha Gann. And what I said earlier of several minutes ago, I said I had allowed two more. [0:23:04, 0:23:16]: And two more pre-bespoke so we can move on with this subject and this aspect. It would I want to remind the council is that initially when I mentioned this, we we I thought we were gonna talk about the second session, and then we went on for discussion. You approved it. [0:23:16, 0:23:21]: If motion was made on a second, it was approved by the council, so then we just started discussing that. Trying to be fair as possible. [0:23:21, 0:23:23]: But I didn't want this to drag on. [0:23:23, 0:23:43]: But if the council wants to overrule me again in reference to have you, sir, speak, so be it. I'll follow the rules of I'll follow the rules. So there was a motion that was made, it was second. All in favor. It's a point of order on that. Mr. Williams, does that open that up to the rest of the council, or is that motion would be specific to one? Is that even legal to make a specific motion to one council? [0:23:43, 0:23:52]: Council member. Okay. All right. The motion has been made. It's been second. All in favor allow Mr. Blount uh Mayor Potem to continue to discuss discuss it. All opposed. [0:23:54, 0:23:55]: All right, go ahead, sir. [0:23:56, 0:24:00]: Mayor, I I'm I'm saying this in order that people here be clear on what's at hand. [0:24:02, 0:24:04]: What's at hand here is that [0:24:04, 0:24:06]: The taxpayers. [0:24:06, 0:24:08]: Of the city of Stockbridge. [0:24:09, 0:24:10]: That lives in this county. [0:24:11, 0:24:13]: has been paying taxes. [0:24:13, 0:24:15]: Ти де ти Хенри Коні по єс. [0:24:16, 0:24:18]: Those numbers are coming in and [0:24:18, 0:24:32]: That$550,000 as a gift to the park to us, you don't give anybody a gift that's already they've already paid for. The taxpayers of the city of Stockbridge has paid every year into this park. [0:24:32, 0:24:52]: What is the millage rate out of twelve point seven three three? We don't know. But when we find it out, are the county willing to roll that millage rate back to us now that they don't have any parks in the city limits of Stockbridge if we take over that park? There's a lot of discussions to be had rather than just say, well, take the park. First of all, we have no idea what the expenses is. [0:24:52, 0:25:12]: We have no idea what we've what what argument we can take to the county that the taxpayers of the city of Stock Bridge in the county has already paid. We have no idea what's the millage rate if they're gonna even roll it back to us because we've taken over the park. Why pay for a park to the county, pay for parks and rec to a county that they're not even maintaining anymore? [0:25:12, 0:25:14]: There's a lot of questions to be had and answered. [0:25:15, 0:25:35]: Than to sit here and I don't want to play politics with anything. We have to get answers for us to make sound decisions. I said I want to be good stewards of the taxpayers' money, and that's making sure all the facts are in place. A perception is greater than the truth until the facts are found out. And we do not have those answers along with many. [0:25:35, 0:25:51]: Many other answers that we will discuss later pertaining to Cochrane Park. I'm not against us taking Cochrane Park, but we have to make sure that the numbers are right. When you say you're gonna get the city five hundred and fifty thousand dollars, one of the things that Barnum said on that diet. [0:25:51, 0:26:11]: He said to them, does that mean if the city of Stockbridge doesn't take the park, you're gonna still fix the park? That's what was stayed in the air. And this is what they voted for, that the park was gonna be repaired, regardless if the city of Stockbridge takes it or not. Because Bar uh Commissioner Barnum said that this the essence is of time is of the essence. [0:26:11, 0:26:15]: We as a city of Stockbridge that lives in the county [0:26:16, 0:26:20]: has paid millions to the to the county to maintain parks. [0:26:21, 0:26:22]: And when we see [0:26:23, 0:26:25]: What's going on right now? [0:26:26, 0:26:28]: A lot of meetings should have been had before now. [0:26:30, 0:26:37]: should have been had before now because time is of the essence now and we cannot continue to let the let the county operate like they're operating. [0:26:38, 0:26:43]: We cannot continue to let the the t we are we are not being physically responsible. [0:26:44, 0:26:54]: with the taxpayers money to take and pay now something on top of what we've already paid for. The county's supposed to fix that park, fix the park, and then let's talk about the city of Stockbridge. [0:26:55, 0:27:06]: Alright, now since we open this door back up again. Anybody else on the council have anything else to say about Cochrane Party? Even though we took it off the agenda, I want to make this clear. Anyone else? [0:27:06, 0:27:26]: I'm gonna say something. Um, we've already given to the city of attorney and the city manager, right? Time is of essence. We can keep going on and on and on saying the same thing but in a different tone. So again, you see what this this mayor and council [0:27:26, 0:27:46]: is expecting um our citizens and just please just get us answers quickly as possible. So thank you. Just one comment. Go right in. Okay. What I would like to say in response to Councilman Blount is I agree with everything he said. I've agree with everything the city manager said about the park. There's only [0:27:46, 0:28:06]: One problem. You cannot force Henry County to do anything. They've already told us what they're going to do. They're not going to fix the dugouts. They're not going to fix the fences. They're not going to do any of that. They're not, they don't really care that they've been paying that the roll back taxes. And they're [0:28:06, 0:28:25]: There is nothing that the city can do to force them to move forward with that. The citizens would have to take care of that at the polls. There's nothing that we can legally do to force them to take that tax money and to turn it over. We've been negotiating an SDS agreement with them. [0:28:25, 0:28:26]: For years now. [0:28:26, 0:28:46]: And it seems like that process continues to stand. I'm sure this will be a part of that process of talking about the SDS. But let's not go down saying the county should do this and the county should do that. We all agree that they should do it. They're not. They've told us to kick rocks about f about a thousand [0:28:46, 0:28:49]: [1729.5, 1736.2]: I will say again, I do not want anybody watching my children that don't want to, and I will leave it there. [0:28:57, 0:28:59]: Yes, ma'am, go right in. Thank you. Um [0:29:02, 0:29:10]: I think the everybody on this council is passionate about making sure the kids play at this park. We had a discussion from my understanding that the kids would start [0:29:11, 0:29:12]: practice in February. [0:29:12, 0:29:20]: What I can say to my council member um council and Alexander is I have spoken [0:29:20, 0:29:22]: to some of the commissioners who actually [0:29:23, 0:29:28]: were willing to negotiate or entertain a different a different dollar amount. [0:29:29, 0:29:39]: if in fact there's some needs that need to be upkept at this park. And I think that it would be negligent of us not to find out what those costs are. [0:29:39, 0:29:44]: And what we have to be financial physically responsible for this. [0:29:45, 0:29:48]: And we have to know what exactly the dollar mark amount is. [0:29:49, 0:29:51]: Whether and it's not just [0:29:52, 0:30:12]: the the the piping. It could be very well the dugouts. It could be the buildings because they've been paid for already to be fixed. But those are issues that we have staff for to bring back to us and we take over to the county. Um there is you are absolutely right the citizens will have to take the [0:30:12, 0:30:22]: the City polls. And there i there there's one commissioner that will probably not bend, but you have five you have four other commissioners [0:30:22, 0:30:23]: Who may? [0:30:23, 0:30:29]: And so what I'm asking for is for us to do exactly what we've already said we're gonna do. [0:30:30, 0:30:40]: And this is the reason why I felt like we shouldn't have an executive session'cause we would just go round and round in circles with no concrete numbers. Um and so there you go. [0:30:43, 0:30:44]: Am I clearing or right? [0:30:45, 0:30:48]: I am a clear on my left. Fire line is now clear. [0:30:49, 0:30:57]: Old terminology that is anyway. Back to the motion that was on the adopted agenda. We actually amended the agenda where we took off item number six. [0:30:57, 0:31:04]: Motion was made, it was seconded, and all in favor of that of adopting agenda with number six out, please indicate. [0:31:05, 0:31:07]: I was standing. Now on that note [0:31:07, 0:31:27]: Adoption of minutes for the following meeting at the October 29th work session and also the special call meeting November seventh. Please take a look at that. If any changes, let the clerk know. If not, we will see that again at our next meeting and we'll approve it at our next meeting. On that note, I'll move on. One question, please, ma'am. Yes, yes, your question, sir. [0:31:27, 0:31:32]: an email to the clerk about some language that was changed. Was that updated? [0:31:33, 0:31:34]: Okay. [0:31:35, 0:31:35]: It's not a night. [0:31:37, 0:31:43]: Okay. All right. Thank you. On that note we have public comments. Madam Clerk, we have any public comments, please. [0:31:45, 0:31:47]: Okay, Ms. Powell, come forward, state your name and address, please. [0:31:51, 0:31:52]: Wait, how do we do this? [0:31:57, 0:32:02]: I know. Um uh did I oh [0:32:02, 0:32:04]: Oh, the clock is not working. [0:32:07, 0:32:07]: Isn't that? [0:32:10, 0:32:11]: You know you're [0:32:33, 0:32:53]: Go right. Okay, sir. Yes, uh my name's Craig Powell. I'm like I'm a coach down at Cochrane Park. Um basically I want to speak on Cochrane Park and uh I hear what everybody's saying about uh you know you need to do a study and you know this and that, but you you you you just you're not gonna [0:32:53, 0:33:13]: be you're not gonna do it by yourself. You got the whole city behind you. Like like I I told you before, I have my own companies. I can go and donate all the work, the repairs to every last building out there. Y'all don't have to worry about I donate that. You know, um as far as like the the baseball seasons. [0:33:13, 0:33:33]: Y'all don't have to worry about that because the park can handle it. The park can handle stuff like that, the park itself. Only thing we ask the city for is to figure out a way to um to add in the budget just to keep the fields, you know, keep the fields nice. Everything else, the park gonna handle itself. Um the problem where it got to this point now. [0:33:33, 0:33:53]: Now is because we really ain't have a committee over at the park. We just kind of had like one person in charge, whatever he says goes. But now we have a full five, you know, five-member committee. You know, we have a, you know, we have a uh all the way down to the accountant, you know, who who will handle the budget part of the park. So that [0:33:53, 0:34:13]: That's basically what we asking. We just want everybody to cut out all the back and forth and politics and just just do this for the kids. We sacrifice, we understand what y'all mean by, you know, you don't wanna just take apart not knowing what you know what's wrong with it and everything. But me and Coach, we um we take a lot of chances all the time with these kids, you know. [0:34:13, 0:34:33]: But that's all we asking. Just get the part. We're gonna help you. You're not by yourself. You got the whole set of stockbridges. You got me in the coach. You got it, ain't just us, it's it's other coaches. And uh like like um councilman um, I'm sorry, like councilman Alexander said, Um, the county already told you what they're gonna. You either [0:34:33, 0:34:53]: Take that of Kit Rocks. So it's time for us to quit all this away known assessment. You doing this and that. Let's get the part. And like I said, you you know, you you got help. You know, um Ola, they have their community, they goes out and they paint their um their buildings down there. And that's what I'm trying to, I'm trying to offer that to you. [0:34:53, 0:35:13]: y'all i take care i'll take care of every repair need for every building there like i said um you know i i have um my own companies i can take care of that only thing um we want y'all to do like i said um take care of the fields and the park of handle itself don't worry about no baseball season no this and that the park and handle [0:35:13, 0:35:31]: itself. It real simple. Let's let's get the park. And um, you know, make it a nice spot down here in Stockbridge. That that park is a legendary park. I have um connects with all the directors for the major tournaments. They they ask me daily when is the park gonna get open. They ready to host tournaments there. [0:35:32, 0:35:33]: Let's get it open. [0:35:33, 0:35:34]: That's all I got. [0:35:35, 0:35:36]: Yeah. [0:35:52, 0:35:53]: Name and address, please, sir. [0:35:54, 0:35:59]: Michael Paris, one four four Ventura Trailstart Bridge, Georgia. How y'all doing tonight? All right. [0:35:59, 0:36:08]: Uh I just wanna hit a couple of notes. I don't have a lot to say, but time is of essence right now with Cochrane Park. Um I know you guys hear the same thing we hear about it. [0:36:09, 0:36:15]: Somebody gotta move their feet. Somebody gotta step up. I know what the county did. I understand the fund's been exhausted. [0:36:15, 0:36:20]: But when do you put a dollar amount on a child? That's a problem I have. [0:36:21, 0:36:26]: It's time for somebody to step up. Somebody gotta be the big man. It's a lot of kids looking to play baseball this season. [0:36:26, 0:36:28]: Lot of parents can't afford to get to Hill and Valley. [0:36:29, 0:36:34]: Lot of parents can't afford to get to Richard Craig, but I can help them get to Cockham Park along with Coach Craig and the other coaches. [0:36:35, 0:36:55]: It's time to commit. Either city gonna take the park or city not gonna take the part. It's time to step up, time to take a stance. I hate to say it, but I gotta be real. It's enough hiring, enough ducking. It's time for the city to stand up. You're gonna take the part, commit. If not, just say it. But let me just be clear with this. The problem we got right now with district five commissioner. [0:36:55, 0:37:01]: We're gonna see the same problem again next year. If Henry County repair this park open back up, it's gonna be the same situation we got right now. [0:37:02, 0:37:06]: And I don't wanna go through this again. And I don't think the parents or other coaches do either. [0:37:06, 0:37:07]: It's a problem. [0:37:08, 0:37:12]: And I understand the city has paid a lot of taxes into the county. I get it. [0:37:13, 0:37:14]: But a mistake was made. [0:37:15, 0:37:19]: Well let's don't punish the kids because of the mistake an adult made that was frivolous with the money. [0:37:19, 0:37:22]: We can't look at that. We can't s be stuck on that. [0:37:22, 0:37:25]: And I gotta go counsel Councilman um Elton said. [0:37:26, 0:37:34]: The county said what they was gonna do. They make shoot me and Coach Craig hit us all the time. Why, I do not know, but we hear it. They not doing no more than what they say they're gonna do. [0:37:34, 0:37:38]: They tired of the whining. I'm tired of it too. But that's what they gonna do what they gonna do. [0:37:38, 0:37:42]: And we gotta get past it what the city did and the county did. That that's old news. [0:37:43, 0:37:53]: Gotta go forward. Somebody gotta be innovator up here. Somebody gotta open their mind and say, Okay, they screwed up, but we gotta make it right. This thing need to be fixed. I'm a businessman also. [0:37:54, 0:37:57]: I dealt with people that have done me wrong or screwed me over. I have. [0:37:57, 0:37:58]: But [0:37:59, 0:38:02]: I gotta look past that. I can't just be stuck on that. [0:38:02, 0:38:04]: My business won't strive if I do. [0:38:05, 0:38:18]: And this is the same thing going on here. This is business up here with the city and the county. You can't be stuck on spilt milk. Gotta go forward. Gotta get past it. Some kind of way. We all adults in here. No kids in here tonight. Adults gotta stand up. [0:38:18, 0:38:19]: And also [0:38:20, 0:38:24]: Um, like Coach Craig mentioned about um Ola Park. [0:38:24, 0:38:29]: They have a community down in the council where the pl parents and players do come down and fix the part. [0:38:30, 0:38:40]: We got the same thing right here. But we tried it before with the regime we had. They told us no. Not knowing they had another plan. See, sometimes people come with a good heart wanna do the right thing. You're dealing with crooks. [0:38:41, 0:38:50]: It won't work. We need some honest people to deal with. That part will sustain itself. But when you got a snake at the top, it's just not gonna work. [0:38:51, 0:39:05]: And that's why we here. We're here for the kids. That's the only reason we're here. I'm tired of talking about it too. I know y'all are tired of the cock and part. It's all over the news. But that part need to be saved. Thank you guys. Have a good night. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving. [0:39:14, 0:39:15]: Name and address, please, sir. [0:39:17, 0:39:22]: Robert Kolpak, 272 Cotton Indian Creek Road, McDonough, Georgia, 30252. [0:39:22, 0:39:27]: Just a couple of things. County good news is county's not turning the park over to pickleball park and [0:39:27, 0:39:30]: It's not being bulldozed at this time because of the vote they did have. [0:39:31, 0:39:41]: In that vote there was some confusion when they were all talking and because there wasn't an amendment to the motion, that's why there was confusion as they were said, We're just gonna fix it right now and then do whatever and give it to the city. [0:39:41, 0:39:45]: The wording has been changed and because of the amendment so [0:39:46, 0:39:55]: Not sure if somebody was fast talking or what, but they were should have fixed it. Turn it over to you guys, Clean Bill Health. On that, over two thousand uh residents have signed up for Safe Cochrane Park. [0:39:56, 0:39:58]: А зайсед'я з people behind us helpin. [0:39:59, 0:40:00]: One thing I would think [0:40:00, 0:40:04]: Instead of duty association, internal person, a city employee over park and recs. [0:40:05, 0:40:06]: It run and maintain the park. [0:40:06, 0:40:20]: I I know a person over at Salem Sports, he took a program for two hundred and fifty kids to six hundred and fifty kids. Not to say to hire'em, but he would be a good person to get over here and go, What's it take to maintain this? What's a salary structure for a person? Because if we could bring somebody with that [0:40:21, 0:40:28]: That goes along with the buildings being disrepaired because if you leave an association they just rip the money out and they don't do the right thing, how do you govern'em? [0:40:28, 0:40:32]: So if he's an employee with us and we have certain standards and rules and regs [0:40:33, 0:40:34]: He can't really get around it in my opinion. [0:40:35, 0:40:36]: Um [0:40:36, 0:40:38]: As far as the repairing of the [0:40:38, 0:40:40]: Benches, uh uh the fields. [0:40:40, 0:40:50]: You you have enough volunteers. I have people waiting ready to go. As soon as we say the word to get the supplies here, to get the people to do the aesthetics. Now we [0:40:50, 0:40:54]: I even have some uh co counsel that says they they've got bulldozers and can help. [0:40:54, 0:41:14]: And what the big thing is we got people that can go put put a siding in, we can paint if if allowed. But if as long as it's a county, do I have that? No. And Commissioner Holmes, you guys know I don't have any pictures tonight. I show it all the time. He hasn't taken care of either Hidden Valley or Cochrane Park for years. That's that's a shame. But if [0:41:14, 0:41:20]: If we take it over, we know what the they're gonna actually repair the whole park as far as stormwater. [0:41:20, 0:41:40]: The volunteer side of it, we will make the park beautiful. And one thing I haven't seen at Cochrane Park that you could do, I just had a adult softball team got sponsored, two different people sponsored me, three hundred each. So I had six hundred dollars. I didn't buy any uniforms for my adult co ed team. Imagine if the back of the ball fields all had different businesses and we could asked from me for three hundred dollars. [0:41:40, 0:41:45]: much money could be put back in. That's how you cover that employee. You offered a hundred hundred thousand dollars to the county. [0:41:45, 0:41:47]: Maybe pull that back, get a county employee. [0:41:48, 0:41:51]: And then let's get some sponsors in here and make it a proud park. [0:41:52, 0:42:00]: Which is in our thing and maybe even pressure wash the hidden valley or uh the Cochrane Park uh rocks. That's all I got tonight. Thank you. [0:42:01, 0:42:13]: Thank you very much, Clerk. On that note, then uh let's see here. Old business council consideration to approve the FY 2020 water and sewer rates. Mr. Aaron, please. [0:42:19, 0:42:39]: Uh good evening, Mr. Mayor and Council. Please come before you tonight in reference to the uh FY 2020 water rates, as was noted at the previous meeting, Henry County is raising their rates two percent. And on this spreadsheet, it shows that when we take into account the purchase water and our debt service, that accounts for [0:42:39, 0:42:39]: Or [0:42:40, 0:42:56]: Over 48% of what's spent out of the water budget for operations. And then when you take into consideration your personnel costs, that increases it to 68% of your revenue you receive from your water. [0:42:56, 0:43:02]: goes towards debt service, buying water, and your personnel costs. And that leaves you about thirty-two percent. [0:43:03, 0:43:23]: perform maintenance and do the other things for the water system. And also if you look at I did a rate analysis, we did a rate analysis of the local governments in Henry County and the Henry County Water Authority. The city of Stockbridge is currently lower than all of those. And we just want to make sure that we don't fall behind when it comes [0:43:23, 0:43:37]: comes to to rates because if we don't keep pace with them, it's gonna come a time where you're gonna have to raise your rates substantially. And you're buying the majority of your water from Henry County Water Authority. And also the other caveat is that [0:43:37, 0:43:52]: You have a loan with GIFA and anytime they can require you to raise your rates to make sure you're meeting your debt service coverage ratio. And we just wanna make sure that we continue to stay, even though this increase is minimal, it it [0:43:52, 0:44:12]: You'll spend an extra ten thousand dollars if you're buying the same amount of water as you did last year. But we just wanna make sure that we don't fall behind and there comes a day and time where we gotta raise our rates five percent or more. And as long as we're we're keeping up with what the ordinance says with Henry County raised there, we'll raise it the corresponding rates and [0:44:12, 0:44:16]: We're just trying to stay ahead of the curve and we don't want to fall behind. [0:44:16, 0:44:20]: Mayor. Mr. Eyre. Questions for Mr. Air. Go write it, please. [0:44:20, 0:44:26]: Mayor I'd like to make a motion to approve the physical year of twenty twenty water and sewage rates. Zero second. [0:44:27, 0:44:28]: Is there a second? [0:44:30, 0:44:31]: Well, no second. [0:44:32, 0:44:37]: Second. There you go. There's your second. Any further discussion? Mr. Go write it, please. [0:44:38, 0:44:41]: Mr. Aaron, the last time you was here when we talked about [0:44:42, 0:45:02]: The rate increase with Henry County and us um keeping up with Henry County. Um I asked if you would bring some numbers of what that number looked like for us this year. What what are the numbers? Uh you you mentioned some percentages on uh maintenance, you entered the percentages of uh in other areas, but what are the actual numbers? If we don't [0:45:03, 0:45:08]: raise water rates with Henry County, what number do we have that we will have to pay? [0:45:09, 0:45:19]: Well, if if you look at what the water system is doing for the last 2016, 2017, 2018, you lost money. [0:45:20, 0:45:39]: In 2016, we lost sixty-seven thousand dollars. Two thousand seventeen we lost one hundred and fifty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars. Mr Mr. Ayer, I'm sorry to cut y'all since I've been on this council, this is the second time that I remember Henry County raising their water rates. But the question I asked. [0:45:40, 0:45:43]: If we don't raise our rates with Henry County [0:45:44, 0:45:51]: I'm not talking about history. I'm talking about right now with this rate. What is the amount that we would have to pay if we don't do that? [0:45:52, 0:46:01]: Is the what that's what I asked the last time we was here. I just want to know the figure of what we would have to pay if we don't. What our rates would be? No, no. [0:46:02, 0:46:22]: You if you if it goes up two percent uh with the county, I can't remember if they're already at five or something like that, it'll go up to seven. If we don't raise our rates with the county during that annual year, what would our cost be if we don't raise our rates with the county? [0:46:23, 0:46:25]: Our rates would be [0:46:26, 0:46:34]: We're paying, I think it's five dollars and something per thousand. So two percent of five dollars. [0:46:37, 0:46:38]: Okay. [0:46:38, 0:46:48]: I'm understanding Mayor Pro 10200 direct to the city. Yes, of what we would absorb is ten thousand two hundred dollars. [0:46:50, 0:47:06]: If we don't raise the water rate with the county, it would cost the city ten thousand two hundred dollars. If we purchase the same amount of water we we buying at the same rate that we're buying it now. Okay, thanks. And that would just add to the deficit we've had the last three years. [0:47:08, 0:47:16]: You had a question for Mr. Herrick. Just f a follow-up. Didn't we raise our rates the last time they raised their rate? [0:47:16, 0:47:17]: Yes, or we do it. [0:47:18, 0:47:23]: Then we're what part of we're not keeping up with the county. I'm trying to understand what you say we're not keeping up with [0:47:23, 0:47:43]: Here's the here's the situ. We purchased sixty between sixty-five and seventy percent of our water from Henry County. And so we're if we don't raise our rates, we're selling the water we buy from them at a loss. And we can't continue to sell a product that we buy. [0:47:43, 0:48:03]: For a loss and continue to maintain the system. And just like any business, if your supplier raised their rates and you decide you're gonna eat all the costs pretty soon, you won't be in business. You won't be able to keep up with the expenses because you got expenses. Georgia Power is gonna raise their rates every year, pretty much. Then our chemical treatment costs. [0:48:03, 0:48:11]: cost, then you gotta factor into you got employee costs, you got health insurance just went up that the water department pays their share. [0:48:12, 0:48:15]: So if the county's rate s is five percent. [0:48:16, 0:48:36]: What is the rate that they're paying the city the c the city's portion? If we raise our rate, would it be also five percent or seven percent? If whatever the ordinance says, if Henry County raises theirs five percent, the city would raise theirs the corresponding amount. No, I'm only saying that because you're making a statement that we've been operating in a loss, but if we're keeping up with the rate and [0:48:36, 0:48:56]: And if we've already kept up with the rate with Henry County, how we're operating on a loss, then we'll never catch up then if we're doing the same thing they're doing. But that's part of the overall long-term strategy. We've talked with our engineers. We want to do a rate study, but we want to ensure that we're staying level where we are now with what we purchased and what we save. [0:48:56, 0:48:56]: There you go. [0:48:58, 0:49:01]: Okay. Thank you, sir. Any other questions for Mr. Aaron? [0:49:03, 0:49:10]: Motion's been made in a second to approve uh the rates here water rates increase. All in favor, please indicate. [0:49:11, 0:49:15]: Oppose. Sustain. Okay. Four zero one. Thank you. [0:49:15, 0:49:22]: Mr. Aaron, appreciate that. Thank you. Public hearing. Proposed FY twenty twenty budget hearing. Second reading. Mr. Knighton, please. [0:49:25, 0:49:26]: This is nasty. [0:50:36, 0:50:36]: All right. [0:50:41, 0:51:01]: All right, Mayor and Council, um this is the second uh hearing of the proposed 2020 uh operating uh budget. Um the uh there was a uh first hearing, of course, at our last meeting, and uh the operating budget is intended to provide for uh [0:51:01, 0:51:14]: Um a realistic and true assessment of our revenue projections balanced with an attempt to ensure that the city is able to meet its service needs for its citizens. [0:51:23, 0:51:32]: You all should have a packet of the general fund budget before you, which is proposed at right at eleven point five four million dollars. [0:51:33, 0:51:53]: The budget is intended to address all of the relevant needs of the county and to ensure that we can meet those service needs. The overall budget is one that has been vetted with the department heads, has been [0:51:53, 0:52:10]: vetted through our budget uh hearing process or a budget uh retreat process and um is uh something that we can that we believe is uh realistic in terms of its overall um [0:52:11, 0:52:16]: Ability to address the service needs of the city. I was looking for one particular page. [0:52:22, 0:52:42]: The budget contains also the revenue projections as well as the general fund budget, as well as the specific um uh fund budgets, uh, which make up the entire uh city's budget. Again, the general fund is about eleven point five four million dollars. [0:52:42, 0:53:02]: Which addresses all of the relevant departments and addresses the service needs that we are attempting to meet. As you can see, there are various different funds in the overall budget. I'm trying to scroll down here a little bit faster, but it's not working for me. But it it contains the capital project. [0:53:02, 0:53:22]: Project fund budgets, as well as urban redevelopment, URA, which you're accounted for in the budget, and all of the items that comprise the citywide project fund, capital improvement plan, DDA, and so forth. All of those are provided in the budget. The general fund [0:53:22, 0:53:31]: again is eleven point five four million dollars. Uh earlier today I provided you with an uh overall assessment of some of the modifications that have been made. [0:53:31, 0:53:37]: Since the last time uh that we uh met, based on some of the questions that you provided. [0:53:37, 0:53:47]: It based on some of the uh minor adjustments that were made, which actually brought the budget down just a little bit, um, toward a little bit about five thousand dollars or so. [0:53:49, 0:53:54]: So with that, I will uh entertain any questions uh relating to the budget. [0:53:55, 0:54:15]: I'm sorry. Go ahead. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You you you sir? You ready to go? Go ahead. Yes, Mr. Knight. Thank you so much for the second presentation. Uh there's been a lot of questions about Reeves Creek and the condition uh of the trail. Where is that captured? [0:54:15, 0:54:35]: Uh in the budget, and when are we looking at some substantial of those bridges being replaced with uh what we got going on? Let me mention again it's a capital item, and a significant capital item uh would not rightfully be placed in a general fund budget, the 11.54 million dollars, because it's an expense outside of [0:54:35, 0:54:46]: Your normal day daily operations, which a general fund budget should address. There may be some minor maintenance things that we can address in a general fund budget, but a major capital expense would not be captured there. [0:54:46, 0:54:52]: We actually have been working on the um RFP to put out. We had some minor adjustments that we had to make. [0:54:53, 0:55:01]: To bring back the RFP. And as I ra as I recall, the RFP should be uh completed and put on the streets in about two to three weeks. Is that correct? [0:55:01, 0:55:21]: Next week, I'm sorry, next week. Next week it'll be put on the streets for bidders to bid on that project to replace all of the bridges. The bridges and the trail, I'm sorry. Right. And in the interim time, I mean we ha I can't tell you how many citizens have calling me talking about how embarrassing the trail is. Is there anything that we can do in the interim? [0:55:21, 0:55:23]: [3324.8, 3344.8]: Well, we obviously tried to um make or maintain the trail in a fashion that allows people to still utilize it. And there are people who still utilize it. We've gotten some comments from citizens. Obviously it's it's not in the best pristine condition that we wanted and we understood that when because we have to make those um repairs. One of the issues was previously [0:55:44, 0:56:04]: The trail had been had been comprised of basically wooden a wooden structure. And with um the water and condensation and and elements, obviously that deteriorated pretty quickly. This would be more of a composite structure, a cementous or composite structure that would be re that replaced the trail that would have a [0:56:04, 0:56:16]: a much longer life. And so while it is a challenge for citizens right now, we ask them to bear with us while we can make the permanent until we can make the permanent solution, which should come in the next several months. [0:56:17, 0:56:27]: I have a follow up, but I'm gonna let somebody else ask a question then I'll come back to it if you would come back to me. All right, sure. Any other questions for the council? Mr. Knight, in reference to budget. [0:56:29, 0:56:29]: Go right here, sir. [0:56:30, 0:56:31]: You don't have a question? [0:56:32, 0:56:52]: Right, sir. I I'm gonna broach a subject. I think I I mentioned it to uh Councilman Thomas there and I think I might have mentioned it uh in passing to uh councilwoman. I I'm not as sure what the amount of work that this council performs and the amount of time and effort [0:56:52, 0:57:12]: And everything that we put into this particular job. And, you know, when I first took the job, I did not understand the commitment that it would take, and that sometimes at this job is 24-7. We work weekends, we work nights, we work extensively. [0:57:11, 0:57:31]: extended periods, uh we have special call meetings, uh we have uh different functions and um conferences to attend and basically there's no compensation for any of that, for any of us. And um I I think it's time for the council to look [0:57:31, 0:57:51]: And to entertain what is the appropriate compensation for the members, the mayor and council in this particular city, as other metro cities looking to see what fair compensation is for council members. Because this is taking away from everybody. [0:57:51, 0:58:11]: Everybody up here and our potential to earn because I have to take off days, many are days from work. I think many of you all have to take off days from work. And when we do that, there's no compensation for that. [0:58:11, 0:58:19]: For what the time and money that we spend. And I think it's time to open that conversation up. [0:58:20, 0:58:40]: uh to have that conversation and to maybe even to uh venture a raise. And citizens should understand how the process works, and I believe Mr. Williams can talk about it as well. If there is a pay increase that is introduced uh for the city council, it does not go into effect immediately. These uh the voters have [0:58:40, 0:59:00]: The the council would actually, it would go into effect with the next council. So we would not, in effect, be giving ourselves an immediate uh pay increase. What we would be doing would we be passing on that increase to someone else at the next election cycle because at this point uh we are enduring. [0:59:00, 0:59:02]: [3543.1, 3546.6]: uh what we had to do during the battle for deannexation. [0:59:06, 0:59:09]: I know many of us work seven days a week and [0:59:10, 0:59:17]: We were down at the Capitol. We talked made calls to senators and legislators and everybody throughout the council. [0:59:17, 0:59:23]: And uh, you know, I know we did that because we love the city and we would do it we would do it again. [0:59:23, 0:59:43]: But we need to understand, uh, in the end, you know, none of the council members were compensated for that, and neither of us. I mean, I've seen the numerous councils and mayor entertain the fact uh of a pay increase uh throughout the Metro Atlanta area. Uh and I think, you know, as we venture and we've raised raised [0:59:43, 0:59:50]: The salaries for the entire staff to compete with Metro Atlanta to make sure that we had top talent. [0:59:51, 0:59:54]: Іновен то аплафез джаб. [0:59:54, 1:00:14]: And they see that it pays$12,000 a year. I'm not sure even if we have the top talent sitting in sitting in these seats. But I know we have dedicated professionals who sit in these seats and understand that we do what we do. But we should not have to sacrifice our earning potential and those being [1:00:14, 1:00:30]: able to take care of our family, taking off days of work with no compensation for that. And I think uh this council needs to and I think you talk about that, Mr. City Manager, that would have to go in a general fund budget if the council were to look into uh providing a raise for themselves. [1:00:35, 1:00:37]: Yes, that's occurring in general fund. Yes. [1:00:38, 1:00:43]: So, Mr. Williams, can you talk about the process a little bit behind what would need to be done? [1:00:46, 1:01:06]: Councilman, you're correct that uh if the will of this council was to uh look at a pay raise, um it could not take effect until after the next municipal election. Um but prior to any vote for a uh pay raise for council, you have to follow the provisions of the statute which require [1:01:06, 1:01:26]: Require that you advertise that at a set meeting, the council will consider uh increase in compensation for members of council. So we would just have to follow the statute if that was something you would entertain. But um because it would not affect the budget for another two years, you don't have [1:01:26, 1:01:30]: have to link that to this. Right. Okay. Right. Right. Okay. [1:01:31, 1:01:51]: Any other comments? Um, if not, what I'd like to mention here is that I believe last time we did this, we took a some type of comparable analysis with cities like cities of like sizes of Stockbridge and and took a comparison that way, is what I understand recall. And uh in this aspect. The other thing that comes to mind to [1:01:51, 1:02:02]: is is uh well actually we have a census coming up next year so the city's gonna I would say the city's gonna grow and then that would probably be something that be reflected or add into any type of study that we wanna have. [1:02:03, 1:02:23]: uh if we w uh tend to go that route in in this aspect and uh guaranteed I understand it takes a lot of time and effort uh in in reference to to uh it's a part time job or full time job with part time employment I guess you may say uh in this aspect. And I explain all the time to l young folks when I talk to'em um in reference [1:02:23, 1:02:43]: To uh what a mayor does and what the city government does and things of that nature. And I always tell them this about service. It's not about the funds, it's about the the service that you do your community and try to make the best of your community and make it better in this aspect. But uh I guess that's something for us to wrestle with whether or not we want to go down this road or not. Um but I will say to you again that uh [1:02:43, 1:02:53]: Uh you know, i the if we do a comparable analysis of other cities you gotta take under probably in consideration that we will grow in this aspect as well. So anyway, that's my food for thought. Anybody else any comments? [1:02:54, 1:02:59]: Yes, sir. Go right, please. Um Mr. Knighton, um [1:03:01, 1:03:05]: Not in this document here, but in and I'm [1:03:05, 1:03:10]: I'm assuming that it's pretty much the same. Can you speak to [1:03:10, 1:03:30]: postage. Uh I see in various departments uh there's a line item for postage. Uh it was my understanding that um all mail outs come to a central location here uh at the city uh for mail out I I [1:03:30, 1:03:50]: I may not I may be mistaken on that, but could you elaborate um on the process of postage and mailouts? Yeah. I think I understand. I think I may understand your question. Okay. Different departments would have a different expectation of how much they would mail out. For instance, business services are occupational. [1:03:50, 1:04:04]: tax because they send out so many business license correspondents might have a higher than another department um that wouldn't expect to have that many uh mail outs during the course of a year just by nature of their responsibility. [1:04:05, 1:04:25]: And so that may be if there's something specific, I'll be glad to try to address that or or research it. But I think that um may be the disparity in in postage that you may see in different departments. Follow up. So is there a I I guess a book mail out that that [1:04:24, 1:04:36]: each department may collect here uh in city hall for a a buck mail out, even even independent of uh each department. [1:04:38, 1:04:54]: Yeah, I mean depending on the the number of pieces, yes. Yes. Okay. And I'm um and I'm trying to go through this particular document because it was just here on the dice when we got here to to look at those line items. I noticed in my previous book I did um [1:04:54, 1:04:57]: Make a check uh of that [1:04:58, 1:04:59]: Uh but [1:04:59, 1:05:10]: I I I'll I'll accept that answer now and once I get a chance to look at this again and I know I could speak to you uh anytime before the next reading, the final reading. Okay. [1:05:11, 1:05:14]: Any questions in reference to the budget at all? [1:05:14, 1:05:17]: Okay, this is a public hearing, then you need to open it up. [1:05:17, 1:05:31]: So on that note, I'd like to open the public hearing on the second reading of our 2020 FY budget. So I'll start anybody for the budget, forward and comments for the budget. Positive comments in my far left side. Seeing none. Anybody in the middle? [1:05:32, 1:05:33]: Anybody on my far right? [1:05:34, 1:05:34]: Okay. [1:05:35, 1:05:41]: Anybody oppose the the budget or items have something disagreement with the budget? From our far left. [1:05:42, 1:05:50]: In the middle. Seeing none far right. Seeing no comments. So on that note, I will close this uh public hearing. [1:05:50, 1:06:10]: And uh we'll continue on to public hearing. Our next uh our third public hearing, which will be our next council meeting, which is I believe is the 9th of December. December 9th. Okay. On that note, uh go on to new business council consideration to approve the uh UB write-offs uh in the amount of fourteen thousand two hundred seventy-nine dollars and thirty seven cents. [1:06:10, 1:06:23]: sense. Mr. Wiggins, please. And I believe, Council, you have a new new document uh for this subject. It should have been on your on the diocese for you in front of your mic. It's a new document, different document, I believe it was. [1:06:23, 1:06:25]: Good evening, Mayor and Council. Good evening. [1:06:26, 1:06:28]: Oh, it's in the books? Oh, it's in the books, okay. [1:06:30, 1:06:32]: Mine was here because I had my book. All right, good deal. [1:06:33, 1:06:38]: Go ahead, Miss Williams. Yes, this is a um for for the two thousand nineteen utility building. [1:06:38, 1:06:58]: Write-off is in the amount of$14,279.37. That is a decrease from last year,$3,419.90. Last year, council approved the write-off of the amount of$17,699.27. [1:06:58, 1:06:59]: Yeah. [1:07:00, 1:07:20]: Staff is asking council consideration to approve the utility building write-off of$14,279.37. Mayor. Well, stand by one second if you're gonna make a motion. Style need a question asking, please. Yes. Okay, in reference, these are people that you've done all the time try to attempt to contact them, they haven't responded. Uh the [1:07:20, 1:07:40]: Can't get anything from them. Don't know if they still exist in the area. Is this what and then so we just got to write off because we can't reach them. We this is non-respondent, I guess. Well, as far as the write-off, what we're doing is we're just taking it off of the utility uh general ledger book, but all of these accounts have gone to our collection agency, so they [1:07:40, 1:08:00]: continuously are still trying to recover our to the the funds. So okay so otherwise if we approve this tonight, the 14,000 plus, the collecting AC is still potentially could potentially potentially reef the benefits and that that funds could still come in and probably go in our general fund or something like that. Is that what happened to you? [1:08:00, 1:08:18]: It'll go it'll just go back into in uh into the account. It just um and then we'll take it off on the collection side, but it'll still go into the uh Okay. So we're still we're still trying to gather this gifts. We're still trying to uh collect Okay, Ms. Gamp, please. [1:08:18, 1:08:28]: Mayor, I'd like to make a motion to approve the UB write-offs in the amount of fourteen thousand two hundred seventy-nine dollars and thirty-seven cents. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? [1:08:29, 1:08:31]: All in favor of the motion please indicate. [1:08:32, 1:08:52]: And all play okay, everybody's unanimous. Okay, thank you, sir. Thank you. All right. Uh we're gonna move down. New business council consideration to approve the ordinance amending the Stockbridge Code setting forth the hours of sale of alcohol beverages for on premises consumption to authori uh to authorize such sales on Sundays from eleven A. M. until uh [1:08:52, 1:09:01]: eleven fifty nine PM Mr. Williams please. Mr. Mayor, on November fifth, the uh voters of the city of Stockbridge voted to approve [1:09:01, 1:09:21]: The so-called Sunday brunch bill by a margin of roughly two to one, which would allow any uh restaurant that has an alcohol license to serve uh in conjunction with Sunday brunch alcoholic beverages beginning at eleven o'clock. The ordinance before you uh actually uh uh puts that into your [1:09:21, 1:09:22]: Yeah. [1:09:22, 1:09:25]: Okay. Slow mood. A second. [1:09:25, 1:09:27]: Any further discussion? [1:09:27, 1:09:28]: All in favor, please indicate. [1:09:29, 1:09:34]: Okay, it's unanimous. Thank you, sir. On that note, City Manager, any comments, sir? [1:09:38, 1:09:38]: Minute time. [1:09:40, 1:09:40]: City Clerk. [1:09:43, 1:09:48]: Okay. Mr. Thomas and Madam Clerk, please put us on the time frame, please. [1:09:49, 1:09:50]: Happy Thanksgiving. [1:09:52, 1:09:52]: Ms. Blount. [1:09:54, 1:10:14]: Yeah, I just wanna thank everyone for coming out and the passion that I've seen from uh the coaches, your continued passion to work with these kids is is is real impressive. Real impressive in the in the community. So thank you all for everything that you all doing and know that we're working diligently and hard to make this happen because [1:10:14, 1:10:21]: You know, the bottom line it is about the kids. And I appreciate everything you all are doing. I thank the staff and everyone that uh [1:10:22, 1:10:30]: um for a successful year here in the Stockbridge. Uh we've we made history in so many different ways and we made progress and [1:10:31, 1:10:51]: At times it may look a little rough in here, but we're all here for the good of the city. And when it's when we see citizens come out and we see staff work so hard and I and our council members up here and I have to echo uh what Mr. Alexander said earlier that we are out here working hard. We are out here trying to make sure that [1:10:50, 1:11:10]: place we live we don't have to go anywhere else to live a better life when we can live it right here in the city of Stockbridge. Um and I just want to uh echo to um just really one of the best staffs I ever seen uh in being in the workforce a dedicated staff uh in a lot of areas so uh I just want to thank everyone. [1:11:10, 1:11:11]: Well, thank you. [1:11:12, 1:11:13]: Ms. Gantt, please. [1:11:15, 1:11:28]: The same as ev what everyone else has said already. So the thank you, happy holidays. Um,'tis a season to give. Um and I just appreciate everyone for being here and for the support and continued prayers. [1:11:29, 1:11:49]: Ms. Alexander. Yes, thank everybody for tuning in and everybody for coming out and participating in this process. We all do this together. And uh do wanna thank the coaches and the parents and the kids for all their dedication to Cochrane Park. Uh we're committed and I [1:11:49, 1:12:09]: I and I just want to see that part reopened as soon as possible. Uh it's a shame that it's been opened, uh been closed, and we want to get it open uh as soon as possible and make it a shining star for the entire metro area where we have kids come from all over the country to play in this best thing. [1:12:09, 1:12:29]: Class facility because we're not going to just stop with just patching the benches or anything like that. Like for us to move forward with creating the first class facility that no one could uh dispute was the best for our children. Uh I would like to also uh remind everybody it's uh it's the holiday season and the [1:12:29, 1:12:49]: Say happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your time with your family and friends. And to think about during this holiday season, there's several uh toy drives going on. I have one called the Adopt the Family Christmas program, and uh it's always an excellent program that we have to give back to the kids. Uh, it grows every single [1:12:48, 1:13:08]: Single year we're able to provide uh toys, clothing, and healthy uh food packages for those uh who participate. And it's only through the kindness of the community that we come together and that we're able to do this. It is truly a wonderful event throughout the year. We're looking for volunteers to support the event. [1:13:08, 1:13:28]: support this and sponsors as well so that we can even make it bigger and better this year. And I invite all of my colleagues to participate in our event this year because it's truly wonderful each year what we're able to do for this particular event for the community. So [1:13:28, 1:13:48]: So thank you so much, and thank you to the staff. We do appreciate all the time that you put in. We know that you work long hours and days and nights to help execute the vision that this council has for the city, and I have no doubt that we're on the right path. Sometimes I have a doubt about the speed, but at the same time, I make sure that. [1:13:48, 1:13:55]: That you know, we're on the right path right now. And the what with the work that we've done collectively as a group. [1:13:56, 1:14:16]: Or go down in the history of the city of Stockbridge. We set the foundation and the infrastructure and the path for the vision of Stockbridge for the next hundred years in the last four years. We did that. And this council needs to take a bow for that with everything that we put in because the plans that we execute were outlaid. [1:14:16, 1:14:22]: last us all, and they will stand the test of time. Happy holidays, Merry Christmas and [1:14:24, 1:14:25]: Happy Thanksgiving. [1:14:27, 1:14:47]: Councilwoman, uh Miss Nee Robinson. Thank you, Mayor. Um first I just want to say to staff, thank you all so much and happy holidays to your families, um, to our coaches. Um, thank you. Um by showing up, having a voice, it speaks volume. Um I've been doing this since twenty sixteen with Cocktail. [1:14:47, 1:15:07]: And I have not wavered. And when you show up, that's when your voice is heard. So I definitely say thank you to each and every one of you being involved in your community because it makes it very well known that we are out violent. [1:15:07, 1:15:27]: volunteering for these students or kids, and they need our helps. They need our help to be off the street. And a lot of people that are not out there, they can't see it. But when you keep coming up to the podium, they can hear it. So I definitely appreciate each and every one of you. Also, my teen ambassadors, they were [1:15:27, 1:15:41]: were able to attend National League of Citi Cities um this past week. Um this was a d uh definitely a major experience. It gave them exposure and I dwanna ask of the mayor and council because we were kind of late to get them on the [1:15:41, 1:16:01]: agenda. So the two young ladies they want to come before you um at our December meeting and they're probably gonna get three minutes, but I know they may go over to just give you um a highlight of how the um the traveling two National League of cities um how they represented Stockbridge and they just want to be able to share that with [1:16:01, 1:16:21]: With each and every one of you. So if they do go over the three minutes, I just want to tell you in advance, if you please, these are our young people to allow them the additional time to be able to do so. Um to my colleagues, um, we have had uh an outstanding two year two pat two years actually, because we have been through the five. [1:16:21, 1:16:41]: fight. And I will say to each and every one of you, um, you have stood your ground, you have made your voices heard. We may agree at times and we may disagree at times. But at the it's at the end, we do the right thing for Stockbridge. And I do know when it comes to Cochrane Park, it's gonna be first class because I know that's the first time. [1:16:41, 1:17:01]: know um when I'm not on this side, I'm gonna be on that side. So just know that um I'm not gone or I'm not going away, but I will be joining the coaches, continuing the fight um so that way we'll make sure that Cochrane Park is first class. So again, I want to say thank you and happy Thanksgiving to each and every one of you. [1:17:02, 1:17:22]: Alright, citizens, it's always good to have you here, whether you're inside of chambers or uh watching uh live or even if you watch on the archive uh later on in a sense. Uh but uh we're trying to do good business for the city and bring it forward and move it forward and to a better life for us all. On that note, um happy Thanksgiving everybody and I want you obviously [1:17:22, 1:17:42]: So you enjoy your family, friends, and of course, football. Who that? We're gonna find out what's happening here. I gotta say, gotta say. Really? Yes, really. No way. Anyway, we'll see. [1:17:42, 1:18:02]: See what the real results are. Anyway, keep the faith, folks. Even with me. Keep the faith, right? Be encouraged. We're gonna continue to do some good work. And the plan is to do this jointly with you all and your input as we go forward. And no matter what the subject is, it's all involved in the city citizen stop bridge. So that we're in the intent to always make this a a best best city it possibly can be. [1:18:02, 1:18:22]: Make it even greater than it is today. And so on that note, uh God bless you all. And I'm gonna read some uh some announcement here. Council meeting, uh third public hearing, FYI 2020 budget and adoption, Monday, December 9th, 6 p.m. right here in the city hall council chambers. Main Street Advisory Board, Friday, December 13th, 9 a.m. Levi meeting. [1:18:22, 1:18:42]: Meeting room. Downtown Development Authority meeting Monday, December 16th, 56 p.m. in Levi Meeting Room. Youth Council meeting is Wednesday, December 18th, 5:30 in council chambers. Let's see here. Youth Council Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday, December 18th, 6:30 in the Levi meeting room. Our next work session we [1:18:42, 1:19:02]: Which uh okay, we already had a workshop, excuse me. Closure round table, uh December second, five PM to nine uh PM and Merrill Manor's Conference Center, City Hall. There's a type over here. Closure round table is is the December December second? December second. It it doesn't start at five. [1:19:02, 1:19:22]: Five. It actually starts at six. Six to seven thirty at the ma at the max there. Okay. The annual holiday festival, Thursday, December 5th, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Merrill Manner's Conference Center. And uh that aspect, okay. Welcome to Stockbridge Roundtable, Tuesday, December 10th, uh six. [1:19:22, 1:19:42]: 30 p.m. right here at City Hall Levi Meeting Room. Monthly Bingo Bash, Wednesday, December 11th. And 10 a.m. to noon. It's Ted Strickland Community Center. Spearheaded by Mayor Protam Blount. Holiday Give Back Toy Drive Friday 13th. Uh Friday, December 13th. 7 p.m. at Ted Strickland Community. [1:19:42, 1:20:02]: Community center, spirit headed by Councilwoman Robinson. The holiday give back Saturday, December 14th, 10 a.m. to noon at Floyd Chapel Baptist Church. Spirit headed once again by Councilwoman Robinson. And Councilwoman Councilman Alzander mentioned his adopt a family toy giveaway, but he didn't say the date, which is December 21st, 10 a.m. [1:20:02, 1:20:21]: to noon, twelve noon at Red Oak uh United Methodist Church. And that's all the announcements. And dare I ask whether or not we're going to Zegular session or not. So are we going to do we have a d are we going to Zeke Session Council? I guess you may it's a request for executors. We do have a request for second session. Okay. And that's that's why I need a motion to go into Zecco session then. [1:20:23, 1:20:25]: for litigation per personnel [1:20:26, 1:20:30]: In raw real estate. Is there a second or so move, somebody? [1:20:30, 1:20:31]: No? [1:20:33, 1:20:36]: Well I can't do so move. Can I cannot do that, right? [1:20:37, 1:20:40]: No, I cannot. So someone's got to make a motion and it's gotta be seconded. [1:20:41, 1:20:41]: No. [1:20:42, 1:20:43]: Okay, is there a second? [1:20:46, 1:20:51]: All right, there's no second. So on that note, I'd like to make a motion to end our si uh city work session. [1:20:55, 1:21:00]: Oh is there a second? Second. All right. All in favor of ending our meeting, please indicate. [1:21:00, 1:21:07]: All opposed? No wait, wait a minute. Are we all approved? Yeah. Okay. Meetings adjourned. All right. [1:21:07, 1:21:10]: Just tell us what is it? [1:21:18, 1:21:22]: But what I want to do is actually talk about this in the [1:21:23, 1:21:27]: That's all right. Tell us what it is. [1:21:27, 1:21:32]: [4893.6, 4900.4]: I like a new business. I like a new business of these [1:22:04, 1:22:06]: Would you like to do a three-two? [1:22:07, 1:22:09]: Yeah, you must actually. [1:22:13, 1:22:27]: I don't know. I'm going ahead and get get it out of the way. I gotta go. My mind. But no. [1:22:53, 1:22:55]: Yep, so it's the [1:23:19, 1:23:20]: Okay. [1:23:33, 1:23:39]: I'll get to the [1:23:41, 1:23:44]: Well. [1:23:50, 1:24:00]: I mean we'll make a whole I'll play that. But I'll I mean this office and you got the vote. [1:24:25, 1:24:28]: I was I was here for about half an hour. [1:24:30, 1:24:31]: Yeah, that's functional. [1:24:36, 1:24:38]: That's a big